Planted flags and pepper spray: Ohio State talks big but folds again vs. Michigan in embarrassing sceneARLINGTON, Texas — There was just something about coach Matt Campbell and his program at Iowa State that intrigued Kenny Dillingham. “His culture and his realness, I think he’s one of the most real people in the sport. You see the passion and emotion on the sideline,” said Dillingham, the second-year coach at Arizona State. “That was the program that I wanted to study from because I thought that they were overachieving at that time early in his career at a high level before he had built it up. Now he’s built it up.” The 34-year-old Dillingham has overseen a program-record improvement of seven wins over last year at his alma mater in its Big 12 debut. The 12th-ranked Sun Devils (10-2, 7-2, No. 15 CFP) now play in the league championship Saturday — against Campbell and the No. 16 Cyclones (10-2, 7-2, No. 16 CFP). After Dillingham became Auburn’s offensive coordinator in 2019, then-Tigers coach Gus Malzahn gave him two days to go study any team. Dillingham went to Iowa State to visit Campbell, who was only 32 when he became a first-time head coach at Toledo late in 2011, and went to his current Big 12 school in 2016. “I’m like, ‘man, this culture that he created, I feel like is sustainable. I feel like this is a winning formula.’ ... I was really trying to get a vibe and a feel for how did he create that culture,” Dillingham recalled this week about that visit. The Cyclones already have their first 10-win season and Campbell is now their winningest coach (63-50). Campbell was once that “young” head coach like Dillingham is now. “Just a lot of respect from my standpoint for him, what he’s been able to accomplish as a young head football coach,” Campbell said. “Being in those same shoes not long ago, you have appreciation for somebody that the spirit his football team plays with, you can tell they believe in their head football coach and their coaching staff.” Big 12 teams in the CFP Arizona State and Iowa State, part of a four-way tie for first place in the Big 12, advanced to the title game on a series of tiebreakers that eliminated BYU and Colorado. The winner at AT&T Stadium will be the league’s only team in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark has publicly expressed his displeasure about the College Football Playoff rankings. Current projections have the league’s champion as the No. 12 seed playing a first-round game on the road. The Big 12 will receive $4 million for each team that makes the CFP and each team that advances to the quarterfinals and $6 million for each team that advances to the semifinals and championship game. In addition, each conference will receive $3 million to cover expenses from each round for a team participating in the CFP. Top WR Tyson out for the Sun Devils Arizona State will be without top receiver Jordyn Tyson, who is out indefinitely after suffering an unspecified injury in the second half against Arizona. Tyson landed hard on his left side while being tackled, and left the stadium last Saturday wearing a sling on his left arm. Tyson has 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns, ranking third in the Big 12 with 91.8 yards receiving a game. The Sun Devils will have to lean more on seniors Xavier Guillory and Melquan Stovall, who have combined for 30 catches for 453 yards and three TDs. Cyclones through the air Iowa State’s Rocco Becht has thrown a touchdown in 16 consecutive games. He is the only quarterback in the nation with a pair of 1,000-yard receivers. Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are the first set of Cyclones receivers with 1,000 yards in the same season. Higgins has 80 catches for 1,068 yards and nine TDs, while Noel has caught 67 passes for 1,013 yards and six scores. Punishing Skattebo Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo can do a little bit of everything – use his quick feet to dart past defenders, catch passes out of the backfield, even pooch punt in a pinch. What Skattebo does best is inflict damage. The senior doesn’t wait to be tackled, instead initiating contact and punishing anyone who would dare try to take him down. Skattebo is third nationally in most missed tackles forced with 93, and is fourth in yards after contact rushing and receiving with 1,141, according to Sportradar. He has rushed for 1,397 yards and 17 touchdowns, ranking third in the Big 12 and eighth nationally with 127.1 yards per game. He is the only 1,000-yard rusher in FBS who also has 400 yards receiving (468). While the Cyclones have one of the league’s best overall defenses, they rank 14th allowing 173.7 yards rushing per game. Trio of Cyclones remain from title-game team The Cyclones have only three players who were on the roster for their only other Big 12 title game, a loss to Oklahoma in 2020. Defensive back Darien Porter was the only one to get in that game. The other remaining players are offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford and defensive lineman J.R. Singleton.
T he “war on woke” has a new target and her name is the Wicked Witch of the West. If you’re a fan of the musical Wicked, you’ll also know her as Elphaba, the moniker imagined by Gregory Maguire in his 1995 prequel to L Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. As played by Margaret Hamilton in the 1939 movie, she was the nemesis of Judy Garland’s Dorothy; as played this year by the musical theatre star Cynthia Erivo , she has conservative men across Britain and America bursting their blood vessels. Since Maguire came up with his novel – an extravagant piece of fan-fiction that suggests this “witch” might simply have been misunderstood – it has been reinterpreted as a stage musical and now as a movie in two parts. Wicked’ s target market consists of teenage girls who see themselves in this backstory for Elphaba and her college-friend-turned-rival, Glinda the Good Witch. In the 21 years since Stephen Schwartz’s adaptation opened on Broadway, the show has been a cult phenomenon among young musical fans, blithely ignored by everyone else. Now the screen version has brought into mainstream conversation and the land of Oz has become a battleground in America’s culture war. As a musical, Wicked is harmless to the point of vapid. Winnie Holzman’s storyline for the show is a more anodyne affair than Maguire’s hallucinatory fever dream of a book, which included bestiality and orgies. It features Elphaba as a talented girl arriving at a magical college, only to be bullied by Glinda and a clique of rosy-cheeked sycophants because she happens to have been born with green skin. This is Mean Girls meets Hogwarts. It has two songs you’ll remember: Popular, in which Glinda reveals the secrets of social success, and Defying Gravity, in which Elphaba vows to pursue excellence and fight prejudice. Wicked is sweet and fun and ultimately forgettable. All of which makes it sad to watch Jon M Chu’s movie become a flashpoint for grown adults. Since opening last weekend, Wicked has been subject to increasingly rabid media attacks. Some of this follows a familiar pattern: outrage for clicks. It is no surprise that Erivo, a black woman who describes herself as queer, has been the target of particular bile. Yet take a look at the organised and powerful social media accounts pushing attacks on Erivo, and it becomes clear that Hollywood is facing a new type of challenge. Wicked has been released into a landscape in which well-funded political marketeers are adept at turning key cultural moments into wedge issues. These are darker arts than anything conjured by the Wicked Witch of the West. Film studios need to decide whether to respond by leaning into the politics of polarisation, ramping up a strategy that already targets movies at different segments of the US electorate, or by making the case for blockbusters that can still bring progressives and conservatives together. The attacks on Wicked range from the plausible to the overtly ridiculous. British media outlets objected to a British Board of Film Classification note that expounded on its PG rating by explaining that the movie featured “discrimination”. “Seeing beloved characters being mistreated, especially when Elphaba’s skin-colour is used to demonise her as the ‘Wicked Witch’, may be upsetting and poignant for some audiences,” says the advice. Piers Morgan was among those who denounced this as the working of the “woke brigade”. Has he seen Wicked ? Sure, BBFC advice to parents can be po-faced and limiting. But the BBFC has been issuing such warnings since 1912 – following a Daily Mail campaign against an early screen depiction of Jesus – which hardly makes it the cutting edge of wokery. Morgan’s complaint seems to be that it is “nonsense” to claim that a movie about bullying based on skin-colour could be understood as an allegory for racism. Which is a bit like objecting to a note that The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe might be an allegory for Christianity. More serious attacks on the film, however, have emerged from a cluster of high-impact, anonymous accounts on X (formerly Twitter) that have flourished in the era of Elon Musk. One such, an account named “End Wokeness”, was set up a few months after Musk bought the platform and already boasts 3.3 million followers; its banner image is a photograph of a bloodied Donald Trump raising his fist after surviving an assassination attempt. Elsewhere on X, an account named “Defiant L’s” has joined the game. It is linked to a website named “Resist the Mainstream”, which the Bloomberg news agency has traced to a Macedonian-based disinformation network pushing conspiracy theories about Covid-19 and Trump’s 2020 electoral loss. Defiant L’s has been endorsed by Elon Musk as “one of the best accounts on X”. The attacks on Wicked promoted by these accounts have received widespread coverage. They blame Erivo’s casting on “wokeness” and complain about munchkins being played by actors of average height, instead of dwarves as in the Oz movie. A video clip pushed out by the End Wokeness account went viral after it showed Erivo and her co-star, the singer Ariana Grande , holding hands emotionally while a reporter asked them to comment on the LGBT community “holding space” for the song Defying Gravity in the aftermath of Trump’s election victory. (The phrase “holding space” refers to a trend for fans to post lyrics from the song online and reflect on their meaning.) What seems to have been missed by other commentators, however, is the role of such social media accounts in pushing the clip, one of hundreds in a packed press tour, to mainstream attention. These are familiar tricks in Trumpworld. Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion Back in 2022, it was reported that the Daily Wire website, led by Ben Shapiro, had spent between $35,000 and $47,000 promoting misleading video clips and news articles attacking Amber Heard, during her defamation battle with her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. The clear intention was to warn young men that the 21st century had become hostile terrain thanks to the excesses of feminism: Trump is the political solution to this problem. End Wokeness and Defying L’s are part of Shapiro’s shared ecosystem. The open-source analyst Ryan McBeth has alleged that the former account is run by the alt-right activist Jack Posobiec, whom the Southern Poverty Law Centre categorises as an extremist with alleged neo-Nazi connections . Related accounts amplified recent attacks on the black actress Halle Bailey when she was cast in Disney’s remake of the Little Mermaid, and Colombian-Polish actress Rachel Zegler when cast in Snow White. British commentators jumping on the anti-woke bandwagon likely have no idea that they’re doing the work of far-right disinformation specialists. Nor have members of the cast of Wicked helped themselves by gushing through an overexposed press tour. But our culture sphere needs to wake up to the fact that our responses to major movie events are increasingly being shaped by a white supremacist media operating out of Texas – or, in this case, Macedonia. Hollywood studios would do well to call out this misinformation when they see it. Their other option is to cater exclusively to one side or other of the political divide. That would prove bad for business and bad for the rest of us. Kate Maltby writes about theatre, politics and culture
WASHINGTON — The House shut down Democrats' efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. The nearly party-line votes came after Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., was the sole Republican to support the effort. Most Republicans have argued that any congressional probe into Gaetz ended when he resigned from the House. Speaker Mike Johnson also requested that the committee not publish its report, saying it would be a terrible precedent to set. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. Shortly before the votes took place, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., who introduced one of the bills to force the release, said that if Republicans reject the release, they will have “succeeded in sweeping credible allegations of sexual misconduct under the rug.” Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims. Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. It's unclear now whether the document will ever see the light of day as lawmakers have only a few weeks left before a new session of Congress begins. It's the culmination of weeks of pressure on the Ethics committee's five Republicans and five Democrats who mostly work in secret as they investigate allegations of misconduct against lawmakers. The status of the Gaetz investigation became an open question last month when he abruptly resigned from Congress after Trump's announcement that he wanted his ally in the Cabinet. It is standard practice for the committee to end investigations when members of Congress depart, but the circumstances surrounding Gaetz were unusual, given his potential role in the new administration. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., the committee chairman, said Wednesday that there is no longer the same urgency to release the report given that Gaetz has left Congress and stepped aside as Trump's choice to head the Justice Department. “I’ve been steadfast about that. He’s no longer a member. He is no longer going to be confirmed by the Senate because he withdrew his nomination to be the attorney general,” Guest said. The Gaetz report has also caused tensions between lawmakers on the bipartisan committee. Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the panel, publicly admonished Guest last month for mischaracterizing a previous meeting to the press. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and said last year that the Justice Department’s separate investigation against him into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls ended without federal charges. His onetime political ally Joel Greenberg, a fellow Republican who served as the tax collector in Florida’s Seminole County, admitted as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in 2021 that he paid women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The men were not identified in court documents when he pleaded guilty. Greenberg was sentenced in late 2022 to 11 years in prison. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Judge grants request from prosecutors to dismiss election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump
For an institution that doesn’t deal well with change, the storied Tournament of Roses, a Southern California tradition since 1890, picked a leader that celebrates it. Ed Morales was feted at a breakfast by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Wednesday at the Hilton. About 200 people, from chamber members and Tournament of Roses members to Rose Queen Lindsay Charles and her Rose Court, turned out to hear Morales’ experience leading the 135th Rose Parade and 111th Rose Bowl game. From choosing a grand marshal (sports icon and equality advocate Billie Jean King ) to visiting the bands selected to perform down the parade route and selecting the theme for the event, Morales said his days now are booked with duties such as checking on the 50 floats as they are being decorated to hearing the stories of people involved with different entries, such as equestrian units. It is a behind-the-scenes look he never would have imagined in 1971, when he first beheld the Rose Parade in person. The floats , the horses and bands all equaled a splendor he’d never seen before, Morales said. He joined the Tournament of Roses, the nonprofit that produces the parade and game, in 1992 and is the second Latino to serve as president. His mother’s family came to the United States more than 100 years ago, fleeing Mexico after the revolution in 1912 and settling in El Paso, then Los Angeles in 1923. The Morales side of his family came to America from Zacatecas, Mexico in the 1950s. He said he hopes his high profile role is validating to minorities. “Growing up, I didn’t see anyone that looked like me (in leadership roles) until Oprah Winfrey,” he said. Born and raised in San Gabriel, a graduate of Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead, Morales is a lawyer who is an alumnus of UCLA and Loyola Law School. He and his wife Lisa, live in Pasadena and have two children in college, Lainey and Jessie. They were the ones who helped the couple decide on the theme “Best Day Ever,” Morales said. Borne from conversations had at bedtime, “they would say this happened and this happened and this was the best day ever,” Lisa Morales said. “We wanted to capture that feeling when you have a fulfilling day, and for us, that’s serving others, and that’s a feeling everyone can recognize.” Billions of people know Pasadena because of the Rose Parade, said Raphael Henderson, former chairman of the board for the chamber. That and the Rose Bowl game generated $245 million into the Los Angeles Area, he added, “that translates to (the duo of events) supporting the equivalent of 2,166 full-time jobs.” Paul Little, CEO of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, said the fundraiser gave the public a chance to hear from someone with a singular perspective on a worldwide phenomena. “They hear things that resonate with them, but also hear what his unique experience has been and the impact it’s had on him,” way before the first float passes by on Colorado Boulevard.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it's possible that Buffett's children could die before giving it all away. He didn't identify the successors, but said his kids all know them and agree they would be good choices. “Father time always wins. But he can be fickle – indeed unfair and even cruel – sometimes ending life at birth or soon thereafter while, at other times, waiting a century or so before paying a visit,” the 94-year-old Buffett said in a letter to his fellow shareholders Monday. “To date, I’ve been very lucky, but, before long, he will get around to me. There is, however, a downside to my good fortune in avoiding his notice. The expected life span of my children has materially diminished since the 2006 pledge. They are now 71, 69 and 66.” Buffett said he still has no interest in creating dynastic wealth in his family — a view shared by his first and current wives. He acknowledged giving Howard, Peter and Susie millions over the years, but he has long said he believes “hugely wealthy parents should leave their children enough so they can do anything but not enough that they can do nothing.” The secret to building up such massive wealth over time has been the power of compounding interest and the steady growth of the Berkshire conglomerate Buffett leads through acquisitions and smart investments like buying billions of dollars of Apple shares as iPhone sales continued to drive growth in that company. Buffett never sold any of his Berkshire stock over the years and also resisted the trappings of wealth and never indulged in much — preferring instead to continue living in the same Omaha home he'd bought decades earlier and drive sensible luxury sedans about 20 blocks to work each day. “As a family, we have had everything we needed or simply liked, but we have not sought enjoyment from the fact that others craved what we had,” he said. If Buffett and his first wife had never given away any of their Berkshire shares, the family's fortune would be worth nearly $364 billion — easily making him the world's richest man — but Buffett said he had no regrets about his giving over the years. The family's giving began in earnest with the distribution of Susan Buffett's $3 billion estate after her death in 2004, but really took off when Warren Buffett announced plans in 2006 to make annual gifts to the foundations run by his kids along with the one he and his wife started, as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Warren Buffett's giving to date has favored the Gates Foundation with $55 billion in stock because his friend Bill Gates already had his foundation set up and could handle huge gifts when Buffett started giving away his fortune. But Buffett has said his kids now have enough experience in philanthropy to handle the task and he plans to cut off his Gates Foundation donations after his death. Buffett always makes his main annual gifts to all five foundations every summer, but for several years now he has been giving additional Berkshire shares to his family's foundations at Thanksgiving. Buffett reiterated Monday his advice to every parent to allow their families to read their will while they are still alive — like he has done — to make sure they have a chance to explain their decisions about how to distribute their belongings and answer their children's questions. Buffett said he and his longtime investing partner Charlie Munger, who died a year ago, “saw many families driven apart after the posthumous dictates of the will left beneficiaries confused and sometimes angry.” Today, Buffett continues to lead Berkshire Hathaway as chairman and CEO and has no plans to retire although he has handed over most of the day-to-day managing duties for the conglomerates dozens of companies to others. That allows him to focus on his favorite activity of deciding where to invest Berkshire's billions . One of Buffett's deputies who oversees all the noninsurance companies now, Greg Abel, is set to take over as CEO after Buffett's death. Even after converting 1,600 Class A shares into 2.4 million Class B Berkshire shares and giving them away, Buffett still owns 206,363 Class A shares and controls more than 30% of the vote. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!ASX have been a mixed bag in 2025, with some names outperforming the market by a wide margin while others have floundered. The (ASX: XHJ), which tracks the sector's market performance, has climbed 7.75% this year to date. This is behind the broader market represented by the ASX: XJO), which is up nearly 11% over the same time. But experts reckon ASX healthcare shares are poised to take centre stage in 2025. Could this signal value waiting to be unlocked? Let's see. Outlook for ASX healthcare shares Analysts and investment firms are bullish on the Australian healthcare 's long-term fundamentals. This could be positive for ASX healthcare shares. Earlier this year, Wilsons Advisory described the sector's outlook as , citing a combination of robust earnings growth and relatively low valuations. Healthcare expenditure is also projected to surge over the coming years. The Federal Budget projected by FY25, increasing to $123 billion the following year. Meanwhile, Fidelity International highlights the ageing population for healthcare companies. It says the number of people aged over 65 is expected to double by 2050. Healthcare has another notable structural driver: the global population aged over 65 will double by 2050 and the proportion of incomes we spend on keeping ourselves healthy will continue to grow. Aussie investors are also jumping on board the healthcare gravy train. According to investment firm VanEck's latest investor survey, ASX healthcare shares are in Australians plan to target in 2025 (alongside technology). The survey found that 77% of respondents were eyeing international equity , with healthcare topping the list of sectors due to its defensive nature and growth potential. Where are the opportunities? According to VanEck, global and ASX healthcare shares have " for investors. The company says there are four primary ways to gain exposure to the space, namely businesses in the pharmaceutical, , equipment and supply, and healthcare services domains. VanEck also says is key. Investors can gain exposure to healthcare companies by buying shares in healthcare companies directly or via a fund or . Meanwhile. analysts are bullish on two giants among fellow ASX healthcare shares. Bell Potter rates ( ) a buy forecasting "above market" profit growth for the biotech giant. ECP Asset Management also has long-term projections on CSL, being of by 2027. ( ) is also rated highly by brokers. A total of 15 from 18 brokers covering the stock rate it a buy, according to CommSec. Ord Minnett , with a $40.05 per share price target. It projects profit growth of 13% from the respiratory device business in 2025. Final thoughts According to experts, ASX healthcare shares are well-positioned for 2025. Part of this is due to the outlook on the broader healthcare industry. Meanwhile, analysts see plenty of earnings potential from companies within the sector. Stepping back, healthcare is known as a 'defensive' industry because it is not strongly correlated to the ups and downs of the broader economy. In other words, healthcare is considered necessary in both good and bad economic times.
Wade Taylor IV helps No. 22 Texas A&M get by Texas TechGlobal Times explores China's "Hehe" culture, emphasizing harmony, peace, and its military's role in global stability. Beijing, China, Dec. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The concept of "Hehe" in Chinese culture, with the first "He" embodying harmony, peace and balance and the second representing convergence, unity and cooperation, is central to both the individual and collective mind-set in China. Rooted in thousands of years of philosophy, the idea of "Hehe" serves as a guiding principle for living in harmony with others, nature and oneself. In a broader context, the concept of "Hehe" has significant relevance to the world today, as addressing the global challenges we face in various areas requires the principles that "Hehe" emphasizes. Viewed through a contemporary lens, "Hehe" is a timeless and universal concept that can guide China and the world toward a more harmonious, peaceful and balanced future. The Global Times gathers opinions from experts and scholars around the world to explore the global significance of "Hehe" culture from various perspectives. This is the third piece of the series. The Chinese nation has a long and profound pursuit of peace, and Chinese culture is characterized by deep-rooted ideas about harmony. The Chinese people have always harbored sincere aspirations for a better, peaceful world, and have been practitioners of "beating swords into plowshares" for thousands of years. The Chinese phrase "beating swords into plowshares" expresses the people's desire to lay down their weapons in pursuit of peace and serves as a warning to mankind not to bring about war again, as maintaining peace is what truly deserves our efforts. Gunpowder was first invented by the Chinese. It was originally used for fireworks to honor the gods rather than for making bullets for warfare, unlike in Europe. China has demonstrated to the world that technological advancement is meant to foster a safer world rather than to inflict harm. Why was gunpowder, invented in China, not used for warfare? This stems from the Chinese nation's values and ideals of peace, harmony, and coexistence, which are manifested in China's Hehe culture. The Chinese nation does not have a genetic predisposition for invading others or seeking hegemony; rather, the quest for peace is the enduring aspiration of the Chinese people. The ancient Chinese military treatise The Art of War states, "The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected." Its core message is to approach war with caution and, whenever possible, to avoid it altogether. The concepts of "harmony is to be prized" and "harmony in diversity" have been passed down through generations, becoming deeply ingrained in the spirit of the Chinese people and reflected in their actions. Historically, China was once one of the most powerful countries in the world, yet it did not leave behind any record of colonization or foreign invasion. In modern times, the Chinese people have suffered greatly from invasion and war, leading them to deeply appreciate peace and recognize the urgency of development. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has never initiated any wars or conflicts and has never occupied even a square inch of another's land. Following the reform and opening-up, China has dedicated itself to promoting world peace, significantly reducing its military personnel by over four million. China's development from poverty to becoming the world's second-largest economy was not built on charity from others, much less on military expansion or colonial exploitation, but rather on the hard work of its people and the maintenance of peace, which has contributed stability and positivity to a tumultuous international landscape. The increasing strength of the Chinese military represents a growing force for world peace. As Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed, China is "a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order." The Chinese military not only provides strategic support for safeguarding overseas interests but also increasingly takes on the mission of maintaining world peace. The stronger the Chinese military becomes, the more effectively it can deter war and bolster peace, thereby reinforcing global stability and development. China has become the largest troop contributor to peacekeeping operations among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping assessments. From 2008 to 2024, the Chinese military has dispatched 46 escort task forces to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia, actively participating in international disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. Whether on the front lines of disaster relief or in defense of peace, the presence of the Chinese military is prominent in many issues of shared concern within the international community. China has the best track record with respect to peace and security, and is the only country in the world that has pledged to "keep to a path of peaceful development" in its Constitution. A large nation with over 1.4 billion people that adheres to a path of peaceful development itself constitutes a stable and powerful force for maintaining world peace. What the Chinese military offers on the world stage is security rather than threat, and opportunity instead of challenge. It has faithfully implemented concepts such as the Global Security Initiative and the idea of a community with a shared future for mankind. The Chinese military seeks its own security while championing collective security, promoting the establishment of multilateral security cooperation mechanisms, and putting into action a new vision for common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. From bilateral to multilateral engagements, from regional waters to distant seas, and from "going out" to "bringing in," China has hosted a number of military diplomatic events, including the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, and the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum. In this way, China has maintained frequent exchanges with high-level militaries from different countries, established defense and security consultation mechanisms with neighboring countries, and collaborated with all parties to address various international and regional security challenges. Moreover, the Chinese military is taking on increasingly significant responsibilities and playing a more vital role in maintaining global peace and regional stability. Regardless of how times change, the Chinese military will always be standing fast as a disciplined force for peace and justice. It will actively fulfill its responsibilities and obligations commensurate with China's international standing, provide more public security products for the world, and contribute to building lasting peace and universal security for a better future. The ability to fight enables one to prevent war. Without the pursuit of conflict prevention, the capacity to engage in combat could easily devolve into militarism and external aggression. Conversely, without the strength to fight, the desire to halt war becomes nothing more than wishful thinking. Hence, it is crucial to maintain strategic clarity regarding the potential risks of warfare and to leverage military strength in crisis management and war deterrence. Only through this can we effectively deter war and decisively prevail in any potential conflict. The author is a researcher at the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the People's Liberation Army National Defense University. [email protected] Company: Global Times Contact Person: Wang Wenwen Email: [email protected] Website: globaltimes.cn Telephone: 13810630137 City: Beijing Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of KISS PR or its partners. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. KISS PR makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information in this article and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.
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Matt Gaetz says he won't return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney general WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz is not coming back to Congress. The Florida Republican said Friday he has no intention of serving another term in the House now that he is no longer President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general. Gaetz withdrew as the nominee this week amid growing fallout from the allegations of sexual conduct against him. Gaetz denies the allegations. Gaetz didn't lay out his plans now that he's out of office, saying only, “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch." After Gaetz's withdrawal on Thursday, Trump named former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department. Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump's most contentious picks WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role. He's been helping Donald Trump’s most contentious Cabinet picks try to win confirmation in the Senate, where he has served for the last two years. Vance spent part of Wednesday at the Capitol with Rep. Matt Gaetz sitting in on meetings with Trump’s controversial choice for attorney general. On Thursday, Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings over the coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad Donald Trump’s lock on the white evangelical vote is legendary, but he didn't focus exclusively on large religious voter blocs. He and his allies also wooed smaller religious groups, away from the mainstream. He posted a tribute to Coptic church members on social media and met with members of Assyrians for Trump — two smaller Christian communities with Middle Eastern roots. He visited the grave of the revered late leader of an Orthodox Jewish movement. His allies sought votes from the separatist Amish community. While Trump won decisively, the outreaches reflected aggressive campaigning in what was expected to be a tight race. NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia's attack with new hypersonic missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with a hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. Ukraine's parliament canceled a session Friday over the security threat. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech Thursday that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Putin said Russia is launching production of the Oreshnik, saying it's so powerful that several of them fitted with conventional warheads could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Texas education board approves optional Bible-infused curriculum for elementary schools AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas’ education board has voted to allow Bible-infused teachings in elementary schools. The approval Friday follows other Republican-led states that have pushed this year to give religion a larger presence in public classrooms. The curriculum adopted by the Texas State Board of Education is optional for schools to adopt, but they’ll receive additional funding if they do so. Parents and teachers who opposed the curriculum say the lessons will alienate students of other faith backgrounds. Supporters argue the Bible is a core feature of American history and that teaching it will enrich learning. 2 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada border FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury has convicted two men of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Shand each faced four charges related to human smuggling before being convicted on Friday. Patel is an Indian national. Shand is an American from Florida. They were arrested after the family froze while trying to cross the desolate border during a 2022 blizzard. Storm inundates Northern California with rain, heavy snow. Thousands remain in the dark in Seattle HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — Heavy rain from a major storm prompted evacuations from communities near a Northern California river that forecasters say could break its banks Friday, as the storm keeps dumping heavy snow in the region's mountains where some ski resorts opened for the season. The storm reached the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands before moving through Northern California, where several roads were closed due to flooding and strong winds toppled some trees. Forecasters are warning about the risk of flash flooding and rockslides in areas north of San Francisco as the region was inundated by this season’s strongest atmospheric river. Archaeologists discover 4,000-year-old canals used to fish by predecessors of ancient Maya WASHINGTON (AP) — Using drones and Google Earth imagery, archaeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old network of earthen canals in what’s now Belize. The research published Friday in Science Advances shows that long before the ancient Maya built temples, their predecessors were already altering the landscape of Central America’s Yucatan peninsula. The ancient fish canals were used to channel and catch freshwater species such as catfish. These structures were used for around 1,000 years — including during the “formative” period when the Maya began to settle in permanent farming villages and a distinctive culture started to emerge. California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child Health officials are confirming bird flu in a California child — the first reported case in a U.S. minor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced confirmatory test results on Friday. Officials say the child had mild symptoms, was treated with antiviral medication and is recovering. The child’s infection brings the reported number of U.S. bird flu cases this year to 55, including 29 in California. State officials have said the child lives in Alameda County, which includes Oakland, and attends day care, but released no other details. Brazilian police formally accuse former President Bolsonaro and aides of alleged 2022 coup attempt SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his electoral defeat in the 2022 elections. The findings are to be delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put the former president on trial or toss the investigation. The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then.Uniswap Outperforms BNB, Yet This Rising Crypto Becomes Whales’ New Favorite
AP Business SummaryBrief at 3:59 p.m. EST
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ANAHEIM, California – Play hockey long enough and, inevitably, you will see a former friend and teammate line up on the other blue line while the national anthem is being played, wearing a jersey that’s a different color from yours. Most often that happens in high school, when a youth hockey teammate has relocated, or in college, when a former high school teammate chose a different school. For five members of the Minnesota Wild, some of those “on-ice frenemies” moments are going to happen on the game’s biggest stage come February. And one day after the quartet of national rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off were announced, at least a few Minnesota players are saying “bring it on.” Most notably, Wild forward Matt Boldy and defensemen Brock Faber are savoring the idea of playing for Team USA and firing non-practice pucks at Team Sweden goalie Filip Gustavsson. “I would love to score on him. That would be a lot of fun, a lot more fun than scoring on him in practice,” Faber said following the team’s Thursday skate at TRIA Rink before they boarded a plane bound for California. “We’re competitors and they’re the same way. They’re excited to represent their country, and we’re excited to represent ours. And it’s going to be a battle. It’s going to be best on best. And it’s so exciting.” Gustavsson was one of three goalies named to the Swedish roster, alongside Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators and Jacob Markstrom of the New Jersey Devils. Speaking with national reporters after the roster announcement, the red-hot Wild goalie said he expects tough competition in games, and for playing time among the trio of Swedish puck-stoppers. “I’ve been privileged to be on the national team a few times now, and it’s always such an honor. Sweden is always producing good goalies, and I knew I had to play my best to be on this roster,” he said, admitting the three goalies will push each other for crease access. “I’ve just been trying to play my game all year. (Sweden) had some unfinished business last year at the World Championships. Hopefully we can really play good there in February.” Manpower update Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant famously crooned about, “Goin’ to California with an aching in my heart.” On Thursday afternoon, the Minnesota Wild hopped on a California-bound plane with an aching pretty much everywhere else these days. After a few days of vague answers regarding the health of missing defenseman Jonas Brodin, the Wild put all of their cards on the table on Wednesday, and it wasn’t a hand with very good odds. Brodin is out week to week with an upper-body injury, as are forwards Mats Zuccarello (lower body) and Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) after the latter left the rink during overtime of Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Vancouver. The Wild recalled forwards Travis Boyd and Reese Johnson from Iowa and both are expected along on the West Coast trip. Boyd has played two road games for the Wild since he was signed last summer. Johnson, another offseason signee, has 141 games for the Chicago Blackhawks on his NHL resume. Forward Jakub Lauko did make the trip after he missed the previous four games with a lower body ailment. The coach said this recent spate of injuries is the nature of the business in a high-contact league like the NHL. “It’s a challenge. I think going into every year, all 32 teams are going to experience this at some point. I think the teams that have strong collective effort, play a real structured game, play a smart game, and you know, it gives yourself a chance to be able to win every night,” Hynes said. “The other thing is, we feel like in the offseason, this was something we had talked about. How do we get our depth stronger? We know that every team is going to get their depth tested. We wanted to get bigger, stronger, and more experienced, and we think we’ve done that.” Related Articles